ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin on Friday directed the Pay and Pension Commission (PPC) to chalk out short, medium and long-term plans for reformation of the pay and pension system in the public sector over a period of time.

During a meeting with the PPC Chairperson Nargis Sethi, the finance minister appreciated efforts made by the commission for streamlining the prevailing system of emoluments based on principles of equity, fairness and transparency.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Dr Waqar Masood Khan and Secretary Finance Division were also present during the meeting.

The minister said that there was no short-term solution to this problem, adding that the end goal was to make the government ‘an employer of choice’ for the talented youth.

He said there was an increased need to work out ranges for linking compensation with performance, which he said would ensure meritocracy in recruitment and result in improved service delivery in the public sector.

The minister noted that there was a pressing need to rationalise existing workforce and adhere to a performance-driven compensation system for smooth transition to e-governance.

He affirmed full support and facilitation to the PPC on the occasion.

Earlier, Ms Sethi briefed the minister about the working of the commission to streamline the existing pay and pension structure.

She outlined the working of sub-groups under the commission which have been assigned different tasks to identify distortions in the existing system of disbursement of pay and pensions of the government officers in federal, provincial and other allied departments and organisations.

The chairperson also apprised the finance minister about challenges in the way of harmonisation of pay and pension system across the country, which included disparity in allowances, perks and other benefits as well as burgeoning expenditure of the pensions on national exchequer which is not sustainable in the long run.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2021